Potentate Message
March 2010
What a “Souper Bowl” party, lots of people showed up and had fun. It just keeps on growing thanks to the efforts of Mike Knox, our volunteers, and our OG’s . We raffled off 4 large TV’s and three small ones. Someone won two this year - Mike. The food was great, a good reason to come if for no other reason. The kids looked like they were having a good time as well with the bouncing trampoline and game tables. We had very good showing for our Wichita Falls Food Bank collection, 467 pounds of food. Thanks to Dee Ann and Mark Reed for coming up with such a good idea.
February 2010
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
Congratulations and a big thank you tro Mark Elgin and his lady Cathi for a great year.
I would like to thank everyone for electing me Potentate and elevating the entire Divan for this year; as we all know, this is not an automatic given.
Welcome to our newest divan member, Dru Landrum and his Lady Debbie.
Congratulations to Ed Hall for receiving the Golden Fez Award, to Colleen James for reeceiving the first Golden Fezette Award, and to Ronnie James for receiving the Cline Jewel--all tremendous honors.
Thanks to the Nile Patrol for the nice dinner at the installation and to the decoration committee. Pat French sure makes a good checken spaghetti.
We have started the year off on a high note; we received a $5,000 donation to the Shrine Hospitals from Courtyard of Marriott in honor of their grand opening in Wichita Falls. Terry Huff was on hand to receive the check along with the Divan and a nice showing of Fezzes. Thanks to Lewis Croom.
Work has started on our new Pavilion building on Hatton Road. The Grand Master O'Neill of Texas will be here February 12 to level the corner stone. I hope many of you will plan to attend the ceremony; it has been 10 years since the last leveling ceremony was held in this area. At 3:00 PM we will open a representation of the Grand Lodge at Wichita Falls Lodge 635 and then adjourn to Hatton Road for the leveling ceremony; afterwards, we will return to Lodge 635 t5o close the Grand Lodge.
I want to thank everyone who attended our Potentate's Ball. A lot of people worked very hard in preparation for the event, and everyone of you who helped out was needed. A special thank you to Sharon Kirk for her design work and Greg and Cathy Stockton for the wonderful meal.
The Super Bowl Party is February 7th at the Temple. This should be a fun event with heavy hors d'oeuvres by Terry Martin and Greg Stockton. We will have betting boards and a cash bar along with many door prizes. There will also be raffles (with a limited number of tickets for each) for three large LCD TVs and three smaller LCD TVs. For the little kids, a bouncing trampoline enclosure is being provided by Mark and Susan Terry. If you can, please bring some kind of snack to go with the hors d'oeuvres. We also ask that you bring three (or more) cans of food for the Wichita Food Bank, and you will receive one free drink ticket.
Remember IHOP National Pancake Day is coming up February 23. Volunteers are needed to be present (wearing Fez) at both of our IHOP locations; this is an all-day event so we will needs lots of volunteers
Our OG trip was set up by Mark Reed. From what he has told me during the planning stage, it should be one of our best
Winnie and I are excited and thankful for the many new friends we have made before and since moving to the Wichita Falls area.
Bob Hamblin, Potentate 2010
January 2010
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
What a wonderful ride I have had the past five years. Thanks to your faith in me five years ago I have had an opportunity to get to know each and every one of you better. I have met and made some good friends around the state and the U.S. that I probably would have never met otherwise. We have had the opportunity to represent Maskat at numerous functions around the state and the United States. It has made me proud to know that Maskat was always well known and received by everyone. This was not because of me but because of the ground work each and every one of you laid in your travels.
I was always proud to have been part of TSA Dan's year. It was very successful, but, I also said I was glad TSA would not be in Wichita Falls my year. I wasn't sure I could do a good job on such a big undertaking. Well I learned real fast that I couldn't without each and every one of you. You made TSA another big success. I got the credit from around the state but YOU did it and I will always remember that! It also made me proud that we stepped up as brothers and helped Galveston get back on their feet; no one else can say that.
Each and every event we had this year was a success because of you and I will alwlays remember that you gave your all this year to make it successful. I get the credit since I am the Potentate but I will always know it was you that made me look great.
To the ladies, Thank You. Each of you stepped up to help with decorating and advice on things I had no clue about and didn't have a lady (at first) to help. When Cathi became part of my life you took her in and helped her learn the Shrine way and made her feel she had been part of this from the beginning.
I could go on and on but I am going to end this by just saying THANK YOU! It's been wonderful. Keep up the good work in the following years!
I love you all!!!
Mark Elgin, Potentate
December 2009
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
We survived the Circus! I want to thank everyone who came out to help with the food, those who worked out front to greet people coming in and everyone who helped with the program sales. As with every other fund raiser this year, it was again succe3ssful and that's thanks to all of you. Every year the Circus people love to come to Maskat because we are the only Temple that feeds them (and feeds them well). Thanks to all of the cooks and the ladies who brought food and helped serve. Saturday we only had to do the program sales at the first show. George Carden told me he felt like Maskat was his second Temple and he wanted to help us make money. He bought all of the Coloring Books from us to help us. This I feel was a very gracious act because in the end he had about 1000 of them left and lost money on it. I was a little disappointed in the number of fezes in the crowd, especially on Sunday. Our Fez is our best advertisement; people recognize it, which in turn helps membership.
Speaking of membership, Alan Donaldson and Brad Rogers will be the Membership Chirmen next year. They went to Membership School in Tampa and came back with some great ideas. They are looking for helpers. All of us know someone who would make a good Mason and Shriner so talk to your friends about becoming one. If everyone got one person that would put our membership back over one thousand again.
As I am doing this letter, I received a call stating that Khiva got TSA for 2011 so you will be able to relax a little. This way you can go and enjoy TSA instead of having to work during it.
I know I repeat myself every month but I do want to thank each and every one of you for all of your hard work this year. I know we had a lot more happen than usual but your hard work has made this year a very successful year.
Cathi and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe and have a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely
Mark Elgin, Potentate
November 2009
Nobles and Ladies,
What a fast year! It seems like summer just started and we were finishing TSA. Now we are about to wrap up our last big project. The Circus should be over by the time this comes out. I know there were a lot of questions about the new Circus contract and the way things were done. We expected it to be a little clumsy at first but I think the new contract has been real good for Maskat. I want to thank everyone for their hard work on the Circus and making it another big success for Maskat.
Our numbers have fallen off a little at the Stated Meeting and Units Council. This year is about done but we still need everyone's participation. All of the Unit heads need to make Units Council; this is where the decisions on things to be brought before the Nobility are made. Please attend!!! We still have projects in the works and elections are coming up, so your input is important.
I don't have much new news so take care of yurself and we will see you at the meetings. I know this is the season for all of the bugs to spread, so take care of yourself and your family, stay well. We have several members that need your prayers, so don't forget them.
Sincerely
Mark Elgin, Potentate
October 2009
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
Time is flying by fast, for me anyway. I thought after summer everything would start slowing down, and we could all relax a little. Boy was I wrong. We have two upcoming events: Fall Ceremonial/Shrinefest Party and the Circus.
On October 17th we will have our Fall Ceremonial. Last count I heard we have about 20 candidates coming in. We will start the Ceremonial at 5 PM. We voted at Imperial to change the Ceremonial to be more modern and appropriate for our needs. I would like to invite everyone to come hear the new Ceremonial and support our new members. At 6:30 PM we will have a meal and start the Shrinefest Appreciation party.
As I am sure you already know, we have started work on the Circus. We need all of the volunteers we can get to help with the different jobs during the performances. If you know of any business that might buy an ad for our coloring book contact Mike Knox for the ad forms. There were supposed to be five performances but it has been reduced to four. There will be two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Noble tickets should be in the mail soon.
I appreciate all the hard work everyone has put in this year to make it a very successful year for Maskat. This wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you working as hard as you have.
On a final note--by now most of you know that I finally made an Honest Woman out of Cathi on September 11th. Give her your condolences! You know she needs it being stuck with me!
Sincerely,
Mark Elgin, Potentate
September 2009
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
Well as I write this school has started back today so I guess summer is officially over. It may not really be over but we do have Shrinefest behind us now so maybe we can relax and enjoy what is left of it.
Speaking of Shrinefest just as with TSA I can’t thank you enough for all of the hard work everyone put into making it a big success again. I know it was a lot of hard work just preparing for it. Saturday if most of you were like me I sure didn’t want rain but I was sure wishing for some cloud cover or something to relieve the heat. Shrinefest was crowded, hot and dusty; I guess that’s why they call it Red Dirt music. Thanks to all of you and your hard work it looks like we made an unofficial $50,000.00. I’m not much into Red Dirt music, but Mark Terry and his crew know what people like and how to get them there. Congratulations Mark for a great concert. I know the pressure was on you and you proved it could be done and be a success.
Probably by the time you read this we will have had our first stated meeting after being “in the dark” (if you can call it that) for the summer. Our final project will be the Circus in November. We need the Units to decide if they want to sell Unit tickets or not, so we can order them. Also the Noble tickets will also be on sale.
Mike Knox is the Circus Chairman and will be calling on you to help with the different parts of the Circus we will be in charge of like the coloring book ads. I made a call to let everyone know that Cunningham and Moore have started phone solicitations for donations or for buying tickets. If they contact you or your friends it will show on your caller ID as C Moore, this way you will know this is a legitimate call.
Well I don’t know much more to share for now. All I can do is make you envious of the 28 of us who are going to Cozumel on the Potentates trip to recover from Shrinefest. “Wish you were with us”. See you on the 8th at the stated meeting.
Once again THANKS for all of your hard work at Shrinefest. I knew each of you would work hard to make it successful!!
Sincerely,
Mark Elgin, Potentate
What a “Souper Bowl” party, lots of people showed up and had fun. It just keeps on growing thanks to the efforts of Mike Knox, our volunteers, and our OG’s . We raffled off 4 large TV’s and three small ones. Someone won two this year - Mike. The food was great, a good reason to come if for no other reason. The kids looked like they were having a good time as well with the bouncing trampoline and game tables. We had very good showing for our Wichita Falls Food Bank collection, 467 pounds of food. Thanks to Dee Ann and Mark Reed for coming up with such a good idea.
IHOP Pancake day is upon us the 23rd of February. I hope everyone that can signed up to be at one or both locations to show the Fez. This is a great hospital fund raiser and is a big part of what our Shriners are about.
Our OG trip is February 25-28 and leaves Maskat at 5:00 PM. It should be a great trip for our new Nobles. It is always good to visit one our hospitals, not to mention the golf and casinos.
The Divan just had it’s Mid-winter in Waco. We learned that some of the hospitals will be able to start filing for insurance by this summer. Also some of the hospitals that would be scaling back their services may not now due to the insurance available. We will see how that turns out.
Mid-winters coming up are: Directors Staff in Fort Worth, March 5 & 6; Foot Patrol in Austin March 5, 6 & 7 ; Motor Patrol in Kerrville, March 5, 6 & 7; Provost Guard March 26 & 27 in Houston; Golf March 31, April 1 & 2 in Tyler.
Dead Cow is scheduled for March 12 & 13 at the Hatton Road Land. Hopefully the building will be ready - might be a close thing with the weather we have been getting.
On February 12th, we had a cornerstone ceremony for the new Pavilion being built on Hatton Road. The Grandmaster Orville O’Neil came from Waco to our Lodge 635 and opened a Symbolic Grand Lodge and conducted the ceremony -- it was impressive.
We are a busy organization with lots going on. The fun is non stop - I think it is great!
Bob Hamblin, Potentate 2010
February 2010
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
Congratulations and a big thank you tro Mark Elgin and his lady Cathi for a great year.
I would like to thank everyone for electing me Potentate and elevating the entire Divan for this year; as we all know, this is not an automatic given.
Welcome to our newest divan member, Dru Landrum and his Lady Debbie.
Congratulations to Ed Hall for receiving the Golden Fez Award, to Colleen James for reeceiving the first Golden Fezette Award, and to Ronnie James for receiving the Cline Jewel--all tremendous honors.
Thanks to the Nile Patrol for the nice dinner at the installation and to the decoration committee. Pat French sure makes a good checken spaghetti.
We have started the year off on a high note; we received a $5,000 donation to the Shrine Hospitals from Courtyard of Marriott in honor of their grand opening in Wichita Falls. Terry Huff was on hand to receive the check along with the Divan and a nice showing of Fezzes. Thanks to Lewis Croom.
Work has started on our new Pavilion building on Hatton Road. The Grand Master O'Neill of Texas will be here February 12 to level the corner stone. I hope many of you will plan to attend the ceremony; it has been 10 years since the last leveling ceremony was held in this area. At 3:00 PM we will open a representation of the Grand Lodge at Wichita Falls Lodge 635 and then adjourn to Hatton Road for the leveling ceremony; afterwards, we will return to Lodge 635 t5o close the Grand Lodge.
I want to thank everyone who attended our Potentate's Ball. A lot of people worked very hard in preparation for the event, and everyone of you who helped out was needed. A special thank you to Sharon Kirk for her design work and Greg and Cathy Stockton for the wonderful meal.
The Super Bowl Party is February 7th at the Temple. This should be a fun event with heavy hors d'oeuvres by Terry Martin and Greg Stockton. We will have betting boards and a cash bar along with many door prizes. There will also be raffles (with a limited number of tickets for each) for three large LCD TVs and three smaller LCD TVs. For the little kids, a bouncing trampoline enclosure is being provided by Mark and Susan Terry. If you can, please bring some kind of snack to go with the hors d'oeuvres. We also ask that you bring three (or more) cans of food for the Wichita Food Bank, and you will receive one free drink ticket.
Remember IHOP National Pancake Day is coming up February 23. Volunteers are needed to be present (wearing Fez) at both of our IHOP locations; this is an all-day event so we will needs lots of volunteers
Our OG trip was set up by Mark Reed. From what he has told me during the planning stage, it should be one of our best
Winnie and I are excited and thankful for the many new friends we have made before and since moving to the Wichita Falls area.
Bob Hamblin, Potentate 2010
January 2010
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
What a wonderful ride I have had the past five years. Thanks to your faith in me five years ago I have had an opportunity to get to know each and every one of you better. I have met and made some good friends around the state and the U.S. that I probably would have never met otherwise. We have had the opportunity to represent Maskat at numerous functions around the state and the United States. It has made me proud to know that Maskat was always well known and received by everyone. This was not because of me but because of the ground work each and every one of you laid in your travels.
I was always proud to have been part of TSA Dan's year. It was very successful, but, I also said I was glad TSA would not be in Wichita Falls my year. I wasn't sure I could do a good job on such a big undertaking. Well I learned real fast that I couldn't without each and every one of you. You made TSA another big success. I got the credit from around the state but YOU did it and I will always remember that! It also made me proud that we stepped up as brothers and helped Galveston get back on their feet; no one else can say that.
Each and every event we had this year was a success because of you and I will alwlays remember that you gave your all this year to make it successful. I get the credit since I am the Potentate but I will always know it was you that made me look great.
To the ladies, Thank You. Each of you stepped up to help with decorating and advice on things I had no clue about and didn't have a lady (at first) to help. When Cathi became part of my life you took her in and helped her learn the Shrine way and made her feel she had been part of this from the beginning.
I could go on and on but I am going to end this by just saying THANK YOU! It's been wonderful. Keep up the good work in the following years!
I love you all!!!
Mark Elgin, Potentate
December 2009
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
We survived the Circus! I want to thank everyone who came out to help with the food, those who worked out front to greet people coming in and everyone who helped with the program sales. As with every other fund raiser this year, it was again succe3ssful and that's thanks to all of you. Every year the Circus people love to come to Maskat because we are the only Temple that feeds them (and feeds them well). Thanks to all of the cooks and the ladies who brought food and helped serve. Saturday we only had to do the program sales at the first show. George Carden told me he felt like Maskat was his second Temple and he wanted to help us make money. He bought all of the Coloring Books from us to help us. This I feel was a very gracious act because in the end he had about 1000 of them left and lost money on it. I was a little disappointed in the number of fezes in the crowd, especially on Sunday. Our Fez is our best advertisement; people recognize it, which in turn helps membership.
Speaking of membership, Alan Donaldson and Brad Rogers will be the Membership Chirmen next year. They went to Membership School in Tampa and came back with some great ideas. They are looking for helpers. All of us know someone who would make a good Mason and Shriner so talk to your friends about becoming one. If everyone got one person that would put our membership back over one thousand again.
As I am doing this letter, I received a call stating that Khiva got TSA for 2011 so you will be able to relax a little. This way you can go and enjoy TSA instead of having to work during it.
I know I repeat myself every month but I do want to thank each and every one of you for all of your hard work this year. I know we had a lot more happen than usual but your hard work has made this year a very successful year.
Cathi and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe and have a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely
Mark Elgin, Potentate
November 2009
Nobles and Ladies,
What a fast year! It seems like summer just started and we were finishing TSA. Now we are about to wrap up our last big project. The Circus should be over by the time this comes out. I know there were a lot of questions about the new Circus contract and the way things were done. We expected it to be a little clumsy at first but I think the new contract has been real good for Maskat. I want to thank everyone for their hard work on the Circus and making it another big success for Maskat.
Our numbers have fallen off a little at the Stated Meeting and Units Council. This year is about done but we still need everyone's participation. All of the Unit heads need to make Units Council; this is where the decisions on things to be brought before the Nobility are made. Please attend!!! We still have projects in the works and elections are coming up, so your input is important.
I don't have much new news so take care of yurself and we will see you at the meetings. I know this is the season for all of the bugs to spread, so take care of yourself and your family, stay well. We have several members that need your prayers, so don't forget them.
Sincerely
Mark Elgin, Potentate
October 2009
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
Time is flying by fast, for me anyway. I thought after summer everything would start slowing down, and we could all relax a little. Boy was I wrong. We have two upcoming events: Fall Ceremonial/Shrinefest Party and the Circus.
On October 17th we will have our Fall Ceremonial. Last count I heard we have about 20 candidates coming in. We will start the Ceremonial at 5 PM. We voted at Imperial to change the Ceremonial to be more modern and appropriate for our needs. I would like to invite everyone to come hear the new Ceremonial and support our new members. At 6:30 PM we will have a meal and start the Shrinefest Appreciation party.
As I am sure you already know, we have started work on the Circus. We need all of the volunteers we can get to help with the different jobs during the performances. If you know of any business that might buy an ad for our coloring book contact Mike Knox for the ad forms. There were supposed to be five performances but it has been reduced to four. There will be two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Noble tickets should be in the mail soon.
I appreciate all the hard work everyone has put in this year to make it a very successful year for Maskat. This wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you working as hard as you have.
On a final note--by now most of you know that I finally made an Honest Woman out of Cathi on September 11th. Give her your condolences! You know she needs it being stuck with me!
Sincerely,
Mark Elgin, Potentate
September 2009
Dear Nobles and Ladies,
Well as I write this school has started back today so I guess summer is officially over. It may not really be over but we do have Shrinefest behind us now so maybe we can relax and enjoy what is left of it.
Speaking of Shrinefest just as with TSA I can’t thank you enough for all of the hard work everyone put into making it a big success again. I know it was a lot of hard work just preparing for it. Saturday if most of you were like me I sure didn’t want rain but I was sure wishing for some cloud cover or something to relieve the heat. Shrinefest was crowded, hot and dusty; I guess that’s why they call it Red Dirt music. Thanks to all of you and your hard work it looks like we made an unofficial $50,000.00. I’m not much into Red Dirt music, but Mark Terry and his crew know what people like and how to get them there. Congratulations Mark for a great concert. I know the pressure was on you and you proved it could be done and be a success.
Probably by the time you read this we will have had our first stated meeting after being “in the dark” (if you can call it that) for the summer. Our final project will be the Circus in November. We need the Units to decide if they want to sell Unit tickets or not, so we can order them. Also the Noble tickets will also be on sale.
Mike Knox is the Circus Chairman and will be calling on you to help with the different parts of the Circus we will be in charge of like the coloring book ads. I made a call to let everyone know that Cunningham and Moore have started phone solicitations for donations or for buying tickets. If they contact you or your friends it will show on your caller ID as C Moore, this way you will know this is a legitimate call.
Well I don’t know much more to share for now. All I can do is make you envious of the 28 of us who are going to Cozumel on the Potentates trip to recover from Shrinefest. “Wish you were with us”. See you on the 8th at the stated meeting.
Once again THANKS for all of your hard work at Shrinefest. I knew each of you would work hard to make it successful!!
Sincerely,
Mark Elgin, Potentate